Surgical laser system and laser fiber

ABSTRACT

An optical device including an optical fiber having a longitudinal axis and an optical fiber core with a distal end having a distal terminating end configured to discharge a first laser energy in a first direction and a second laser energy in a second direction. The optical device also includes a fiber cap having an interior cavity and an opening to the interior cavity, where the distal end of the optical fiber core is received within the interior cavity through the opening. A cladding is included on the distal end of the optical fiber core between the optical fiber core and the fiber cap.

BACKGROUND

Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to surgical lasersystems and, more specifically, to a split laser fiber and a surgicaltool that includes the split laser fiber.

Medical lasers have been used in various practice areas, such as, forexample, urology, neurology, otorhinolaryngology, general anestheticophthalmology, dentistry, gastroenterology, cardiology, gynecology, andthoracic and orthopedic procedures. Generally, these procedures requireprecisely controlled delivery of laser energy as part of the treatmentprotocol. Surgical laser systems typically generate the laser energy ina laser resonator. The laser energy is delivered to a targeted treatmentsite through a laser fiber.

Different laser surgical treatments often require different types ofoptical fibers. For instance, a side-firing optical fiber delivers ordischarges the laser energy in a lateral direction relative to thelongitudinal axis of the fiber. This type of fiber is typically used incavity wall ablation treatments, such as those used to treat benignprostatic hyperplasia (BPH), for example. An end-firing optical fiberdischarges the laser energy along the longitudinal axis of the fiber.Exemplary uses of the end-firing optical fiber include ablating tumorsand disintegrating kidney or bladder stones.

Additionally, different laser surgical treatments may require thedelivery of different wavelengths of laser energy. For instance, thelaser energy used to ablate tissue in a BPH laser treatment may bedifferent from that selected to cut tissue, or disintegrate kidney orbladder stones.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to an opticaldevice having an optical fiber with a longitudinal axis and an opticalfiber core. The optical fiber core includes a distal end with a distalterminating end configured to discharge a first laser energy in a firstdirection and a second laser energy in a second direction. The opticaldevice also includes a fiber cap having an interior cavity and anopening to the interior cavity, where the distal end of the opticalfiber core is received within the interior cavity through the opening.In addition, a cladding is included on the distal end of the opticalfiber core between the optical fiber core and the fiber cap.

In another embodiment, the present invention is directed to a surgicallaser system including a first laser source and a second laser source.The surgical laser system also includes a laser fiber optically coupledto the first and second laser sources with a probe tip configured to (1)discharge laser energy from the first laser source in a first directionand (2) discharge laser energy from the second laser source in a seconddirection.

In a further embodiment, the present invention is directed to an opticaldevice including an optical fiber having a longitudinal axis and anoptical fiber core. The optical fiber core includes a distal end with adistal terminating end having a polished beveled surface with a coatingthereon. The coating promotes reflection of a first laser energy havinga first wavelength and transmission of a second laser energy having asecond wavelength. The optical device also includes a fiber cap havingan interior cavity and an opening to the interior cavity, where thedistal end of the optical fiber core is received within the interiorcavity through the opening.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary surgical laser system inaccordance with embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a probe tip according to anembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a probe tip according to anembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a probe tip according to anembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of performing lasertreatments in accordance with embodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the invention are described more fully hereinafter withreference to the accompanying drawings. The various embodiments of theinvention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and shouldnot be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather,these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thoroughand complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to thoseskilled in the art. Elements that are identified using the same orsimilar reference characters refer to the same or similar elements.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. Asused herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify thepresence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements,and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of oneor more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements,components, and/or groups thereof.

It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being“connected” or “coupled” to another element, it can be directlyconnected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may bepresent. In contrast, if an element is referred to as being “directlyconnected” or “directly coupled” to another element, there are nointervening elements present.

It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. maybe used herein to describe various elements, these elements should notbe limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish oneelement from another. Thus, a first element could be termed a secondelement without departing from the teachings of the present invention.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientificterms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by oneof ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will befurther understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly useddictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that isconsistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art andwill not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unlessexpressly so defined herein.

As will further be appreciated by one of skill in the art, the presentinvention may be embodied as methods, systems, and/or computer programproducts. Accordingly, the present invention may take the form of anentirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment or anembodiment combining software and hardware aspects. Furthermore, thepresent invention may take the form of a computer program product on acomputer-usable storage medium having computer-usable program codeembodied in the medium. Any suitable computer readable medium may beutilized including hard disks, CD-ROMs, optical storage devices, ormagnetic storage devices.

The computer-usable or computer-readable medium referred to herein as“memory” may be, for example but not limited to, an electronic,magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system,apparatus, device, or propagation medium. More specific examples (anon-exhaustive list) of the computer-readable medium would include thefollowing: an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portablecomputer diskette, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory(ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flashmemory), an optical fiber, and a portable compact disc read-only memory(CD-ROM). Note that the computer-usable or computer-readable mediumcould even be paper or another suitable medium upon which the program isprinted, as the program can be electronically captured, via, forinstance, optical scanning of the paper or other medium, then compiled,interpreted, or otherwise processed in a suitable manner, if necessary,and then stored in a computer memory.

The invention is also described using flowchart illustrations and blockdiagrams. It will be understood that each block (of the flowcharts andblock diagrams), and combinations of blocks, can be implemented bycomputer program instructions. These program instructions may beprovided to a processor circuit, such as a microprocessor,microcontroller or other processor, such that the instructions whichexecute on the processor(s) create means for implementing the functionsspecified in the block or blocks. The computer program instructions maybe executed by the processor(s) to cause a series of operational stepsto be performed by the processor(s) to produce a computer implementedprocess such that the instructions which execute on the processor(s)provide steps for implementing the functions specified in the block orblocks.

Accordingly, the blocks support combinations of means for performing thespecified functions, combinations of steps for performing the specifiedfunctions and program instruction means for performing the specifiedfunctions. It will also be understood that each block, and combinationsof blocks, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based systemswhich perform the specified functions or steps, or combinations ofspecial purpose hardware and computer instructions.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary surgical laser system 100in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. In oneembodiment, the system 100 includes at least one laser source, generallyreferred to as 102, and a laser fiber 104. Each of the laser sources 102generates electromagnetic radiation or laser energy in the form of alaser beam in accordance with conventional techniques. The laser fiber104 includes a waveguide 106 that is coupled to the laser energygenerated by the laser source 102 through a suitable optical coupling108. The laser fiber 104 includes a probe tip 110 where the laser energyis discharged to a desired laser treatment site. Embodiments of theprobe tip 110 are configured to discharge the laser energy laterallyrelative to a longitudinal axis of the laser fiber 104 and/orsubstantially along the longitudinal axis of laser fiber 104. The laserfiber 104 may be supported by an endoscope or cystoscope during lasertreatments in accordance with conventional techniques.

Control of the discharge of the laser energy through the optical fiber104 may be provided through a shutter mechanism, generally referred toas 111, that is triggered by a suitable input from the physician, suchas a foot pedal. Other conventional techniques may also be used tocontrol the discharge of the laser energy through the laser fiber 104.

In one embodiment, the system 100 includes a controller 112 thatincludes one or more processors that are configured to execute programinstructions stored in memory of the system 100 and perform variousfunctions in accordance with embodiments described herein in response tothe execution of the program instructions. These functions include, forexample, the control of the laser sources 102 and the generation anddelivery of laser energy through the laser fiber 104, and otherfunctions.

In one embodiment, the controller 112 receives input commands from oneor more input devices 114, such as a keyboard, a foot pedal, touchscreen, or other conventional input device of surgical laser systems.The controller 112 is configured to perform various functions responsiveto the commands received from the one or more input devices 114 inaccordance with conventional surgical laser systems.

In one embodiment, the system 100 includes a display 116. Informationregarding the system 100, such as settings for the system, and otherinformation may be provided on the display 116 under the control of thecontroller 112, in accordance with conventional techniques.

In one embodiment, the system 100 includes a speaker 118. In oneembodiment, the speaker 118 can provide an audio output indicating awarning, a notification, or other information.

In accordance with one embodiment, the surgical laser system 100includes at least two laser sources 102, such as laser source 102A and102B shown in FIG. 1. Laser source 102A is configured to generate laserenergy 120A while laser source 102B is configured to generate laserenergy 120B. Shutter mechanisms 111A and 111B respectively control thedischarge of the laser energy 120A and 120B. Alternatively, a singleshutter mechanism may be utilized if the laser energy 120A and 120B isintended to be discharged simultaneously.

In one embodiment, the laser energy 120A is different than the laserenergy 120B. In one embodiment, the laser energy 120A is at a differentpower than the laser energy 120B. In accordance with another embodiment,the laser energy 120A has a different wavelength than the laser energy120B.

The different types of laser energy 120 generated by the laser sources102 of the surgical laser system 100 can be used to perform differentlaser treatments. For instance, green or blue laser energy having awavelength in the range of 300-600 nanometers, which is useful inperforming tissue ablation treatments, such as those used to treat BPH,may be generated by the laser source 102A, while the laser source 102Bmay generate laser energy having a wavelength of around 2000 nanometers,which is useful in laser lithotripsy to disintegrate kidney or bladderstones, for example. Alternatively, the laser sources 102A and 102B mayproduce laser energy 120 having a similar wavelength but at differentpower levels.

FIGS. 2-4 are cross-sectional views of probe tips 110 of laser fibers104 in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. Asmentioned above, some laser treatments utilize a side-firing laser fiber104 or probe tip 110 to perform one type of laser treatment, and anend-firing laser fiber 104 or probe tip 110 for performing other typesof laser treatments.

Embodiments of the laser fiber 104 generally comprise an optical fiber122 having a nylon jacket 124, cladding 126 and an optical fiber core128, as shown in FIG. 2. However, it is understood that other forms ofoptical fibers or waveguides may be used for the laser fiber 104. Thecore 128 operates as a waveguide through which electromagnetic energy,such as the laser energy 120 travels.

In one embodiment, the probe tip 110 is formed by removing the nylonjacket 124 along with any buffer from the distal end 130 of the opticalfiber 122 to expose the cladding 126. In one embodiment, a polishedoptical surface 132 is formed at the distal terminating end of theoptical fiber core 128. In one embodiment, the polished optical surface132 is non-perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 134 of the laser fiber104 (i.e., beveled), as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. In one embodiment,because of the angle 150 of the beveled surface 132 with thelongitudinal axis 134, the beveled surface 132 operates to reflectsubstantially all of the laser energy 120 from laser energies 120A and120B transmitted through the optical fiber core 128, laterally through atransmitting surface 136, as illustrated in FIG. 3 (side-firing). In oneembodiment, the beveled surface 132 includes an anti-reflection coatingthat promotes transmission of one of the laser energies 120B through thebeveled surface 132 generally parallel to the longitudinal axis 134(end-firing) while reflecting the other laser energy 120A laterallythrough the transmitting surface 136 (side-firing) as illustrated inFIG. 2 In another embodiment, the polished optical surface isperpendicular to the longitudinal axis 134 thereby allowing both laserenergies 120 A and 120B to be transmitted through the polished opticalsurface 132 generally parallel to the longitudinal axis 134 (end-firing)as illustrated in FIG. 4.

In one embodiment, the probe tip 110 includes a fiber cap 140 that isbonded to the optical fiber 122 using conventional techniques. In oneembodiment, the fiber cap 140 seals an interior cavity 142 at thesurface 132. In one embodiment, the interior cavity 142 can include agas, liquid, air or vacuum that is sealed within the cavity 142 andwhich promotes total internal reflection of the laser energy 120 off thesurface 132 in accordance with conventional side-firing laser fibers.

In accordance with one embodiment, as discussed in further detail below,both of the laser energy 120A generated by the laser source 102A and thelaser energy 120B generated by the laser source 102B are transmittedthrough the core 128, reflected off the beveled surface 132 anddelivered through the transmitting surface 136, as shown in FIG. 3.

In accordance with another embodiment, as discussed in further detailbelow, the probe tip 110 is configured to discharge laser energy 120transmitted through the core 128 either laterally through thetransmitting surface 136, or in the direction of the longitudinal axis134, depending on the wavelength of the laser energy 120. Thus, thelaser fiber 104 operates as a side-firing laser fiber for certainwavelengths of laser energy 120, and also operates as an end-firinglaser fiber for other wavelengths of laser energy 120. Accordingly, asdepicted in FIG. 2, in one embodiment, the laser energy 120A generatedby the laser source 102A that is delivered through the core 128 may bereflected off the beveled surface 132 and transmitted through thetransmitting surface 136, while the laser energy 120B generated by thelaser source 102B is generally discharged through the surface 132 andalong the axis 134 due to the different wavelengths of the laserenergies 120A and 120B.

In one embodiment, as depicted in FIG. 2, the laser fiber 104 dischargeslaser energy 120B generally along the longitudinal axis 134 (end-firingmode) for laser energies 120B having a longer wavelength, whiledischarging laser energy 120A laterally relative to the longitudinalaxis 134 through the transmission surface 136 (side-firing mode) forlaser energies 120A having a relatively shorter wavelength. In oneembodiment, the laser fiber 104 operates in the end-firing mode forlaser energies 120B having a wavelength of approximately 1900-2100nanometers. In one embodiment, the laser fiber 104 operates in theside-firing mode for laser energies 120A having a wavelength ofapproximately 300-600 nanometers. Those skilled in the art readilyunderstand that the end-firing and side-firing modes of the laser fiber104 may correspond to other wavelength ranges.

In accordance with another embodiment, the laser fiber 104 dischargeslaser energy 120B generally along the longitudinal axis 134 (end-firingmode) for laser energies 120B having a shorter wavelength, whiledischarging laser energy 120A laterally relative to the longitudinalaxis 134 (side-firing mode) for laser energies 120A having a relativelylonger wavelength. These relatively shorter and longer wavelengths mayhave ranges such as those mentioned above, or may other ranges as willbe readily understood by those skilled in the art.

In one embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 2, a coating 133 is applied tothe polished beveled surface 132 to promote the reflection of the laserenergy 120A off the beveled surface 132 and laterally through thetransmitting surface 136 (side-firing), and the transmission of thelaser energy 120B through the beveled surface 132 along the longitudinalaxis 134 (end-firing). In one embodiment, the coating comprises adichroic coating that transmits laser energy 120B having a longerwavelength and reflects shorter wavelength laser energy 120A. Exemplarydichroic coatings include thin-film dichroic coating in layers ofvarying number and thickness of dielectric thin-film coatings withdifferent refractive indexes.

In accordance with another embodiment, the angle 150 of the polishedbeveled surface 132 to the longitudinal axis 134 is generally greaterthan that which would normally be selected in order to promote totalinternal reflection of laser energy 120 transmitted through the fibercore 128, such as in the probe tip 110 of FIG. 3. This increase in theangle 150 relative to conventional side-firing laser fibers is intendedto promote total internal reflection of the laser energy 120 deliveredby the fiber core 128 by the polished beveled surface 132 such that itis transmitted through the transmission surface 136. In accordance withexemplary embodiments, the angle 150 is within a range of 26-42 degrees,such as approximately 38 degrees.

While the probe tip 110 shown in FIG. 2 illustrates the completereflection of the laser energy 120A off the surface 132 and through thetransmission surface 136, and the complete transmission of the laserenergy 120B through the surface 132, it is understood that some of thelaser energy 120A is likely to be transmitted through the surface 132and some of the laser energy 120B is likely to be reflected from thesurface 132 and transmitted through the transmitting surface 136.However, the amount of laser energy 120A transmitted through the surface132 is small in comparison to the amount of laser energy 120A reflectedfrom the surface 132 and discharged through the transmitting surface136. Likewise, the amount of laser energy 120B reflected from thesurface 132 and discharged through the transmitting surface 136 is smallcompared to the amount of laser energy 120B delivered through thesurface 132. The small amounts of the laser energy 120A and the laserenergy 120B respectively discharged along the longitudinal axis 134 ofthe laser fiber 104 and laterally to the longitudinal axis 134, aresufficiently small as to avoid damage to non-targeted tissue of thepatient.

In accordance with another embodiment, the probe tip 110 is configuredto discharge the laser energy 120 transmitted through the fiber core 128generally along the longitudinal axis 134 (end-firing), as shown in FIG.4. In one embodiment, the surface 132 is approximately perpendicular tothe longitudinal axis 134. Thus, in one embodiment, both the laserenergy 120A and the laser energy 120B are discharged along the axis 134(end-firing) as illustrated in FIG. 4.

Additional embodiments of the invention are directed to laser treatmentmethods using the surgical laser system 100 formed in accordance withone or more embodiments described above. In general, the one or morelaser sources 102 of the system 100 allow the system 100 to performdifferent types of laser treatments without replacing the laser fiber104. Additionally, the one or more laser sources 102 may be setup todischarge desired laser energy 120 to allow the physician to quicklyswitch between laser treatments without having to adjust the settings ofa laser source.

When the laser fiber 104 is configured to discharge the laser energy 120generated by the laser sources 102 in a single direction, such aslaterally (side-firing) (FIG. 3) or along the longitudinal axis 134(end-firing) (FIG. 4), different laser treatments may be performed byselecting the desired laser energy 120 (120 A or 120B) that is to betransmitted to the targeted treatment site. For instance, a first lasertreatment may be performed by initialing discharging the laser energy120A generated by the laser source 102A to the targeted site through thetransmission surface 136 such that the laser fiber 104 operates inside-firing mode, or vice versa, end-firing mode. A second treatment canthen be performed by switching off the laser source 102A and dischargingthe laser energy 120B using the laser source 102B to the same ordifferent treatment site such that the laser fiber 104 operates inend-firing mode, or vice versa, side-firing mode.

Each of the laser energies 120 that can be discharged by the lasersources 102 can be set to perform a distinct laser treatment. Forexample, laser energy 120A may have a wavelength and/or a power levelthat is different from the laser energy 120B. This allows the physicianto quickly switch between laser treatments that either require aside-firing laser or an end-firing laser.

One exemplary application for this feature may be in the treatment ofuterine fibroids. Fibroids are a problem that face many women. In theUnited States alone, about 680,000 women develop uterine fibroidsannually. Of all uterine fibroids, submucosal, intramural, andsubsurosal, 15% are submucosal and lend themselves to therapiesdelivered hysterscopically. These types of fibroids could be ablatedthrough a laser treatment to eliminate the need to extract the fibroidmaterial through the cervix. However, fibroids can be found in twodifferent types: one that is highly vascularized and one that is highlycalcified. It is preferable to use different wavelengths and/ordifferent energy levels of laser energy to ablate the different types offibroids. The system 100 can be used to quickly switch between thedesired laser energies to perform the ablation of both types of fibroidsin a single laser treatment session.

In some embodiments, the direction in which laser energy 120 isdischarged from the probe tip 110 can be an additional variable that isused to provide multiple laser treatments using a single laser fiber104. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating embodiments of a method ofperforming multiple laser treatments using the laser fiber 104 of FIG.2. At 170 of the method, laser energy 120A having a first wavelength istransmitted through the laser fiber 104, such as through the fiber core128. At 172, the first laser energy 120A is discharged from a probe tip110 of the laser fiber 104 in a first direction. In one embodiment, thefirst direction is lateral to the longitudinal axis 134 of the laserfiber 104, as illustrated in FIG. 2.

In one embodiment, steps 170 and 172 of the method correspond to a firstlaser treatment, such as a side-firing laser treatment. Exemplaryside-firing laser treatments include ablation, coagulation,vaporization, cutting, resection or vaporesection, enucleation, or otherside-fire laser treatment. In one exemplary embodiment, the treatmentperformed by steps 170 and 172 includes a side-firing laser treatmentfor BPH, in which an overgrowth of prostate cells are vaporized by thelaser energy 120A discharged from the probe tip 110.

At 174 of the method, a second laser energy 120B having a secondwavelength is transmitted through the laser fiber 104. Embodiments ofthe second wavelength include a wavelength that is different from thefirst wavelength, as described above. At 176, the second laser energy120B is discharged from the probe tip 110 in a second direction that isdifferent from the first direction. In one embodiment, the seconddirection is generally aligned with the longitudinal axis 134 of thelaser fiber 104, as shown in FIG. 2.

In one embodiment, steps 174 and 176 correspond to a second lasertreatment that is different from the first laser treatment, such as anend-firing laser treatment. Exemplary end-firing laser treatmentsinclude ablation, vaporization, coagulation, cutting, resection orvaporesection, enucleation, pulverizing or other end-fire lasertreatment. In one embodiment, the end-firing laser treatment comprises alaser lithotripsy treatment to disintegrate or break up kidney orbladder stones in accordance with conventional techniques. Such stonesmay be encountered during a BPH laser treatment.

Thus, embodiments of the invention allow a physician to switch betweenlaser treatments being performed on a patient without having to changeout or switch the laser fiber 104, or switch or make significantadjustments to the surgical laser system 100.

Another embodiment of the invention is directed to the use of an aimingbeam that provides information to the physician, which may be useful inensuring proper setup of the surgical laser system 100 and improvingsafety. In one embodiment, the surgical laser system 100 includes atleast one aiming beam source, generally referred to as 180, whichgenerates an aiming laser beam, generally referred to as 182, which isoptically coupled to the laser fiber 104 for discharge through the probetip 110, as shown in FIG. 1.

Each of the aiming beams 182 corresponds to one of the laser sources 102and is preferably discharged through the laser fiber 104 prior totriggering a discharge of the corresponding laser energy 120. In oneembodiment, the aiming beam 182 provides the physician with anindication of the wavelength and/or energy level of the laser energy 120that will be discharged. The aiming beam 182 can also indicate where thecorresponding laser energy 120 will be discharged to. Thus, the aimingbeam 182 may be used to target tissue or other object when the targetedsite is viewed through an endoscope or other conventional tool.

In one embodiment, the aiming beam 182 is a low power laser beam thatwill not cause damage to the tissue of the patient. In one embodiment,the aiming beam source 180 comprises a laser diode or other suitablecomponent.

In one embodiment, the aiming beams 182 generated by the one or moreaiming beam sources 180 each have a color that identifies the wavelengthand/or energy level of the laser energy 120 generated by thecorresponding laser source 102. Accordingly, the discharge of the aimingbeam 182 through the laser fiber 104 provides the physician with a finalcheck that the laser energy 120 corresponding to the aiming beam 182 isof the desired wavelength and/or energy level prior to discharging thelaser energy 120.

The color of the aiming beam 182 may also indicate a laser treatmentthat is to be performed, such as ablation, coagulation, cutting, etc.For instance, a blue or green aiming beam 182 may be discharged toindicate that the corresponding laser energy 120 is configured toperform a tissue ablation laser treatment, such as for treating BPH.Other colors of aiming beams 182 may be used to indicate other lasertreatments.

The different colors of the aiming beam 182 is particularly useful whenthe system 100 includes multiple laser sources 102, such as laser source102A and 102B. In one embodiment, the selection of a given laser source102 prompts the discharge of a corresponding aiming beam 182 through theprobe tip 110 prior to the discharge of the laser beam 120. Forinstance, when the surgical laser system 100 is set up to discharge thelaser energy 120A generated by the laser source 102A, the system 100also discharges aiming beam 182A from the aiming beam source 180Athrough the probe tip 110 in the same direction that the laser energy120A will be discharged (i.e., end-firing or side-firing). Likewise,when the surgical laser system 100 is set up to discharge the laserenergy 120B generated by the laser source 102B, the system 100 alsodischarges aiming beam 182B from the aiming beam source 180B through theprobe tip 110 in the same direction that the laser energy 120B will bedischarged (i.e., end-firing or side-firing).

In one embodiment, the aiming beams 182 generated by the aiming beamsources 180 are discharged from the probe tip 110 in the same directionas their corresponding laser energies 120. For instance, the system 100may include an aiming beam source 180A that discharges an aiming beam182A corresponding to the laser energy 120A generated by the lasersource 102A. When the laser energy 120A is discharged laterally from theprobe tip 110 (FIG. 2), the aiming beam 182A is also dischargedlaterally from the probe tip 110. In one embodiment, the aiming beam182A has a similar wavelength as the laser energy 120A such that it issubstantially reflected from the surface 132 and through thetransmitting surface 136 in the same manner as the laser energy 120A.Likewise, the surgical laser system 100 may include aiming beam source180B that is configured to produce an aiming beam 182B corresponding tothe laser energy 120B generated by the laser source 102B. When the laserenergy 120B is configured to be discharged along the longitudinal axis134 of the laser fiber 104 (FIG. 2), the aiming beam 182 is alsoconfigured to be discharged along the longitudinal axis 134.Accordingly, the wavelength of the aiming beam 182B is selected suchthat it is transmitted through the surface 132 of the probe tip 110. Asa result, when a physician selects a given laser source 102 of thesurgical laser system 100, the corresponding aiming beam 182 isinitially discharged through the laser fiber 104 prior to the dischargeof the laser energy 120 to provide the physician with a clearunderstanding as to where the laser energy 120 will be discharged. Asmentioned above, this allows the aiming beams 182 to be used to targettissue or other object that is to receive a dose of the laser energy120.

Additional safety features of the surgical laser system 100 includepresenting a display of the selected treatment that is to be performedby the discharge of the laser energy, an image of a probe tipillustrating the direction in which the laser energy will be discharged,information indicating the wavelength of the laser energy to bedischarged, information indicating a power level of the laser energy tobe discharged, and/or other information on the display 116.

In accordance with another embodiment, an audio warning is issued fromthe system 100 through the speaker 118. The audio warning may indicatethat a laser treatment is imminent, a type of the laser treatment to beperformed, a wavelength of the laser energy that is to be discharged, apower level of the laser energy that is to be discharged, a direction inwhich the laser energy is to be discharged from the probe tip 110, orother information.

Although the present invention has been described with reference topreferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize thatchanges may be made in form and detail without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention.

1-22. (canceled)
 23. An optical device, comprising: a controller coupledto a first treatment laser source and a first aiming laser source,wherein the controller is configured to: in response to a request toactivate the first treatment laser source, activate the first aiminglaser source to deliver a first aiming beam in a first direction, andactivate the first treatment laser source to deliver a first laserenergy in the first direction, wherein the first laser energy has afirst wavelength configured to perform a first treatment, and the firstaiming beam does not cause tissue damage.
 24. The optical device ofclaim 23, wherein the controller also is coupled to a second treatmentlaser source and a second aiming laser source, and the controller isfurther configured to: in response to a request to activate the secondtreatment laser source, activate the second aiming laser source todeliver a second aiming beam in a second direction, and activate thesecond treatment laser source to deliver the second laser energy in thesecond direction, wherein the first direction and the second directionare different.
 25. The optical device of claim 24, wherein the secondlaser energy has a second wavelength configured to perform a secondtreatment.
 26. The optical device of claim 24, wherein the second aimingbeam does not cause tissue damage.
 27. The optical device of claim 24,further including the second treatment laser source.
 28. The opticaldevice of claim 24, further including the second aiming laser source.29. The optical device of claim 24, further including an optical fiberhaving: (i) a longitudinal axis, and (ii) an optical fiber coreconfigured to direct the first laser energy and the second laser energyalong the longitudinal axis.
 30. The optical device of claim 29, whereina distal end of the optical fiber core includes a distal terminating endconfigured to discharge the first laser energy in the first direction,and the second laser energy in the second direction.
 31. The opticaldevice of claim 30, further including a fiber cap comprising an interiorcavity and an opening to the interior cavity, wherein at least a portionof the distal end of the optical fiber core is received within theinterior cavity through the opening so that the first laser energy isdischarged through the fiber cap in the first direction, and the secondlaser energy is discharged through the fiber cap in the seconddirection.
 32. The optical device of claim 30, wherein the distal end ofthe optical fiber core comprises a polished beveled surface disposed atan angle transverse to the longitudinal axis of the optical fiber. 33.The optical device of claim 32, wherein the polished beveled surface hasa coating that promotes reflection of the first laser energy off of thepolished beveled surface in the first direction, and transmission of thesecond laser energy through the polished beveled surface in the seconddirection.
 34. The optical device of claim 33, wherein the coating is adichroic coating that reflects the first laser energy and transmits thesecond laser energy.
 35. The optical device of claim 29, wherein thefirst direction is along or parallel to the longitudinal axis, and thesecond direction is transverse to the longitudinal axis.
 36. The opticaldevice of claim 23, further including the first treatment laser source,and the first aiming laser source.
 37. The optical device of claim 25,wherein the first treatment is configured to affect bodily tissues andthe second treatment is configured to affect bladder or kidney stones.38. The optical device of claim 23, wherein the controller is configuredto provide an indication of the first direction along which the firstlaser energy will be discharged before the first laser energy isdischarged, wherein the indication is an image of a probe tipillustrating the direction in which the first laser energy will bedischarged.
 39. An optical device, comprising: a controller coupled to afirst treatment laser source, a second treatment laser source, a firstaiming laser source, and a second aiming laser source, wherein thecontroller is configured to: in response to a request to activate thefirst treatment laser source, activate the first aiming laser source todeliver a first aiming beam through a fiber cap in a first direction,and then activate the first treatment laser source to deliver a firstlaser energy in the first direction; and in response to a request toactivate the second treatment laser source, activate a second aiminglaser source to deliver a second aiming beam through the fiber cap in asecond direction, and then activate the second treatment laser source todeliver the second laser energy in the second direction, wherein thefirst direction and the second direction are different.
 40. The opticaldevice of claim 39, further including the first treatment laser source,the second treatment laser source, the first aiming laser source, andthe second aiming laser source.
 41. An optical device, comprising: acontroller coupled to a first treatment laser source, a second treatmentlaser source, a first aiming laser source, and a second aiming lasersource, wherein the controller is configured to: activate the firstaiming laser source to deliver a first aiming beam through a fiber capin a first direction, activate the first treatment laser source todeliver a first laser energy in the first direction; and activate thesecond aiming laser source to deliver a second aiming beam through thefiber cap in a second direction; and activate the second treatment lasersource to deliver the second laser energy in the second direction,wherein the first direction and the second direction are different. 42.The optical device of claim 41, further including the first treatmentlaser source, the second treatment laser source, the first aiming lasersource, and the second aiming laser source.